The traders, or the trade promotion organizations at the center, have been designated by African governments to be their business entity in Yiwu. They are in turn responsible for the display, marketing and other operational duties. For three years, they are exempt from renting, property management fees, air-conditioning charges and electricity charges in public areas.

The center also serves as a platform to showcase African products with unique features to Chinese consumers. "This project aims at helping African enterprises explore Chinese markets and expand re-export trade," said Weng. The major exports from China to Africa comprises various kinds of daily necessities that are in dire need in the continent, such as clothing, textile accessories, footwear, socks and hosiery, kitchen and household appliances.

Statistics have shown that the total number of African business branch offices in Yiwu has reached 362, seeing a double-digit increase annually. This year has seen over 30,000 business visits from Africa to Yiwu. In the first three quarters of this year, Yiwu enterprises' exports to Africa amounted to $190 million, up 28.63 percent year-on-year. This accounts for approximately 12.5 percent of Yiwu enterprises' total exports, up about 2.5 percentage points from 2010.

Right place 

"It is very cost-effective to buy daily necessities in Yiwu rather than in Africa, and it is much more convenient to do procurement in China than Dubai," said Zimbabwean businesswoman Sarah Nhundu. "No matter what type of goods you want to buy, they are all readily available in the market here, which greatly reduces the costs."

As the forerunner of the economic reform in China, Yiwu has become the largest small commodities market in the world over the past 20 years. In October 2006, the Chinese Government officially launched the Yiwu China Commodity Index (Yiwu Index), the country's first index of its kind, to reflect the trading conditions of consumer goods. The index also strengthens China's capability to influence the pricing of consumer goods across the world.

Yiwu market sells over 1.7 million varieties of goods, with the daily flow of shoppers exceeding over 200,000. It is said that if you visit each one of Yiwu market's shops and spent at least three minutes browsing, it would take you a total of one year.

Yiwu engages in trade with more than 200 countries and regions. Yiwu market creates opportunities for Chinese goods to be showcased to the world. Meanwhile, it also offers a powerful platform for African goods in China and the whole world. It has become a platform for multidirectional trade of export, import and re-exports.

Yiwu also attracts numerous Chinese businessmen. Bao Zhongwei is among them. Bao runs an import and export trading company, and a 400-square-meter store at the center. He started buying goods, such as daily necessities, from suppliers in Yiwu and exported them to Dubai, where he met many buyers from Africa. He then cut out the middlemen by directly seeking his fortune in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Bao began purchasing African handicrafts in local currency, and shipped them back to Yiwu for reselling.

Typical goods at Bao's store include Tanzanian ebony, Kenyan soapstone carvings, and Guinean woodcarvings. "The profit margins are good. African crafts mainly attract visitors and merchants from tourist cities, as well as businessmen who focus on home decoration," said Bao. "Especially after the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, the growing number of customers think that African wood- carvings look promising, most of whom are high-end clients. It represents endless business opportunities."

"Africa's cashew nut, sesame and peanuts are higher in quality, which Chinese people are developing a taste for. My next step is to import African agricultural products," added Bao.